Drawer

ABSTRACT

A storage apparatus includes a structure, at least one pair of tracks mounted on the structure and at least one drawer movably mounted on the at least one pair of tracks. Each of the tracks includes a wedge formed thereon. The at least one drawer includes a rim formed thereon for engagement with the wedges of the tracks. The tracks are made of metal with flexibility. The wedge is formed via punching each of the tracks with a U-shaped slit and bending a portion of each of the tracks confined in the U-shaped slit. The wedge includes a first end integrated with each of the tracks and a second end separated from each of the tracks. The wedge includes a hole defined therein near the first end for facilitating the bending thereof.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to a drawer.

[0003] 2. Related Prior Art

[0004] FIGS. 6-9 show a conventional track 10 for supporting a drawer 40. Although only one track 10 is shown, there must be two tracks 10 for supporting the drawer 40. Each of the tracks 10 includes an upper strip, a lower strip and a lateral strip formed between the upper and lower strips. The lower strip of each of the tracks 10 is punched with a first U-shaped slit 11 and a second U-shaped slit 12. A portion of the lower strip limited in the first U-shaped slit 11 is bent so as to form a first tab 13, and a portion of the lower strip limited in the second U-shaped slit 12 is bent so as to form a second tab 14. The drawer 40 includes a flange 41 formed around the drawer 40 and a rim 43 formed around the flange 41. The flange 41 extends horizontally. The rim 43 extends vertically. The rim 43 includes a front member, a rear member and two lateral members. The front member of the rim 43 is enlarged, thus forming a stop 42 for locating the drawer 40 in a proper position on the tracks 10 via engagement with the tracks 10.

[0005] A user can mount and move the lateral members of the rim 43 on the lower strips of the tracks 10 until the rear member of the rim 43 is hindered by means of the first tabs 13 of the tracks 10, as shown in FIG. 6. The user can continue to push the drawer 40 so as to force the rear member of the rim 43 to slide on the first tabs 13 of the tracks 10, thus allowing further movement of the drawer 40 on the tracks 10, as shown in FIG. 7. The user can continue to push the drawer 40 so as to move the rear member of the rim 43 beyond the first tabs 13, as shown in FIG. 8. Each of the lateral members of the rim 43 is movable on the lower strip of one of the tracks 10 and restricted between the lateral strip and the first tab 13 of one of the tracks 10.

[0006] Each of the tabs 13 and 14 includes a root integrated with the lower strip of each of the tracks 10. The root of each of the tabs 13 and 14 is at a small distance d from a free edge of the lower strip of each of the tracks 10. This small distance d renders the tabs 13 and 14 vulnerable to deformation and even removal from the lower strip of each of the tracks 10. The first tab 13 and the second tab 14 are both designed to stand away from the lateral strip of each of the tracks 10 by a distance marginally greater than the thickness of each of the lateral members of the rim 43. In practice, the distance is often not constant. Forming of the tabs 13 and 14 often causes bumps on the lower strips of the tracks 10. Therefore, smooth movement of the drawers 40 on the tracks 10 is rendered impossible. Furthermore, it requires skills and effort to install the drawers 40 on the tracks 10.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention is intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in prior art.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0008] It is an objective of the present invention to provide a storage apparatus including a pair of robust tracks and a drawer movable on the tracks.

[0009] It is another objective of the present invention to provide a storage apparatus including a pair of tracks and a drawer smoothly movable on the tracks.

[0010] It is another objective of the present invention to provide a storage apparatus including a pair of tracks and a drawer that can be easily installed on the tracks.

[0011] According to the present invention, a storage apparatus includes a structure, at least one pair of tracks mounted on the structure and at least one drawer movably mounted on the at least one pair of tracks. Each of the tracks includes a wedge formed thereon. The at least one drawer includes a rim formed thereon for engagement with the wedges of the tracks. The tracks are made of metal with flexibility. The wedge is formed via punching each of the tracks with a U-shaped slit and bending a portion of each of the tracks confined in the U-shaped slit. The wedge includes a first end integrated with each of the tracks and a second end separated from each of the tracks. The wedge includes a hole defined therein near the first end for facilitating the bending thereof.

[0012] Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0013] The present invention will be described through detailed illustration of embodiments referring to the attached drawings.

[0014]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of drawers mounted on a structure according to the present invention.

[0015]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of one drawer and two tracks shown in FIG. 1.

[0016] FIGS. 3˜5 are cross-sectional views of the drawer shown in FIG. 2.

[0017] FIGS. 6˜8 are cross-sectional views of a drawer and a conventional track.

[0018]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the conventional track of FIGS. 6˜8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0019] Referring to FIG. 1, according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, a storage apparatus includes a structure (not numbered), a number of pairs of tracks 30 mounted on the structure and a corresponding number of drawers 20 movably mounted on the pairs of tracks 30.

[0020] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, only one drawer 20 and one pair of tracks 30 are shown. The drawer 20 includes a flange 21 formed around the drawer 20 and a rim 23 formed around the flange 21. The flange 21 extends horizontally. The flange 21 includes a front member, a rear member and two lateral members. A wedge 211 is formed on each of the lateral members of the flange 21. The rim 23 extends vertically. The rim 23 includes a front member, a rear member and two lateral members. The front member of the rim 23 is formed with two stops 22 for locating the drawer 20 in a proper position on the tracks 30 via engagement with the tracks 30.

[0021] Each of the tracks 30 includes an upper strip, a lower strip and a lateral strip formed between the upper and lower strips. The lower strip is punched with a first U-shaped slit 31 and a second U-shaped slit 32. A portion of the lower strip defined in the first U-shaped slit 31 can be bent so as to form a first wedge 33. Similarly, a portion of the lower strip defined in the second U-shaped slit 32 can be bent so as to form a second wedge 34. However, only one of the wedges 33 and 34 is bent in use. The first wedge 33 includes a first end 332 integrated with the lower strip and a second end 333 separated from the lower strip. Similarly, the first wedge 34 includes a first end 342 integrated with the lower strip and a second end 343 separated from the lower strip. The wedges 33 and 34 extend towards each other. A hole 331 is defined in the first wedge 33 near the first end 332 so as to facilitate the bending of the wedge 33. A hole 341 is defined in the second wedge 34 near the first end 343 so as to facilitate the bending of the wedge 34.

[0022] In assembly, a user mounts and moves the lateral members of the rim 23 on the lower strips of the tracks 30. Referring to FIG. 3, when the rear member of the rim 23 reaches the first wedges 33 of the tracks 30, the user can easily continue to push the drawer 20 so as to make the rear member of the rim 23 slide on the first wedges 33 of the tracks 30, thus allowing further movement of the drawer 20 on the tracks 30. Referring to FIG. 4, when wedges 211 of the drawer 20 reach the first wedges 33 of the tracks 30, the user can more easily continue to push the drawer 20 in order to make the wedges 211 of the drawer 20 slide on the first wedges 33 of the tracks 30, thus allowing further movement of the drawer 20 on the tracks 30. Referring to FIG. 5, when the stops 22 reach the tracks 30, the user cannot continue to push the drawer 20 on the tracks 30.

[0023] The wedges 211 are for engagement with the first wedges 33, thus avoiding removal of the drawers 20 from the pairs of tracks 30.

[0024] The lower strip of each of the tracks 30 is punched with two U-shaped slits 31 and 32, but only the portion confined in one of the U-shaped slits 31 and 32 is bent so as to form the single wedge 33 or 34. This feature is to remove a burden from a user that he be careful about the sense of direction of each of the tracks 30 while assembling the tracks 30 with the structure.

[0025] The present invention has been described via illustration of the preferred embodiment. After a study of this specification, those skilled in the art can derive various variations from the preferred embodiment. Therefore, the preferred embodiment is only taken as an example and shall not limit the scope of the present invention that is defined in the following claims. 

What is claimed is
 1. A storage apparatus including at least one pair of tracks each formed with a wedge and at least one drawer including a rim formed thereon for engagement with the wedges of the tracks.
 2. The storage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the tracks are made of metal with flexibility.
 3. The storage apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the wedge is formed by punching each of the tracks with a U-shaped slit and bending a portion of each of the tracks confined in the U-shaped slit.
 4. The storage apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the wedge includes a first end integrated with each of the tracks and a second end separated from each of the tracks.
 5. The storage apparatus according to claim 4 wherein the wedge includes a hole defined therein near the first end for facilitating the bending thereof.
 6. The storage apparatus according to claim 3 wherein each of the tracks is punched with a first U-shaped slit and a second U-shaped slit, and only a portion confined in one of the U-shaped slits is bent so as to form the single wedge.
 7. The storage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the each of the flanges includes a wedge formed thereon for engagement with the wedge of one of the tracks.
 8. The storage apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the drawer includes a second rim formed with a stop for contact with one of the tracks. 